U-12 girls get first win

There was a first victory of the season for Wolves U-12 girls - a team who entered the league just three days before the season started - as they beat Essex Charge 64-40.

Maria Albiro's side led 24-12 at the first break and took control in the second period to go into the locker room 38-19 ahead. A 21-6 third period ended the game as a contest, and they could afford to allow the visitors to win the final quarter 15-6. Summer Pullen drained a couple of first period triples on her way to a team-high 22 points 

The under-14 girls collected their second victory of the season with Jane Yu pouring in 26 points as basement side Sussex Storm were hammered 91-50 on Sunday.

Beth Sarson's side extended a 21-13 first period lead to 42-28 at half-time before effectively wrapping things up with a 27-9 third frame.  Daisy Golan added 14, Rose Marsh 12 and Lois Levenston 11.

Without Yu and Golan in their ranks, Wolves U-16 girls lost their first league game of the season as a strong second half saw hosts Kents Crusaders win 70-61. There was also disappointment for the U-16 prem boys as they went down 78-62 at high-flying Newham Youngbloods as a 30-19 final frame wasn't enough for Michael Ball's side to recover from a disastrous opening period which saw them outscored 21-4.

Wolves U-16 conference team became the first team to run MK Breakers II even remotely close on their own court before going down 83-61. Against a side who have twice won a game by 120+ points, Ibrahim Gariba's side caused the hosts numerous problems in the first and third periods when they were allowed to use a zone defence and also kept the fourth quarter close, but a 31-14 second frame proved the difference between the sides. Albert Dye again led the scoring with 26 points, with Zac Butterworth adding 14.

The U-12 boys A side continued their excellent season as they hammered Surrey Rams 82-43 on Saturday. After an even start the hosts blew the game open in the second five minutes to lead 21-8 at the first break and George Walker's team effectively wrapped things up by half-time with a 47-16 lead. A Thomas led the hosts' scoring with 16 points, Josh Butterworth adding 13 and Leo Gallagher 12.

Walker was unable to complete a double with the U-14s as Ipswich failed to show up for the East Premier fixture, and the U-12s were also left to scrimmage amongst themselves as Kent Panthers also decided it was too windy to play. Curiously both clubs managed to stage home games. 

Wolves reach first final

Ella Fotu led the way with 21 points as Oaklands Wolves reached their first major final with a 99-68 crushing of Essex Rebels in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday evening.

Lee Ryan's team will meet Caledonia Gladiators at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on January 26th as they look to life the SBL Trophy for the first time.

Ryan was naturally delighted following his team's semi-final victory in what was their first last four appearance in nine seasons of playing in the top flight of British basketball: "It was a terrific win by the team, a top performance from start to finish to beat a talented Essex side" he said.

"The players took the game to them from start to finish and what a moment to share with the crowd at the Wolfden. A great landmark moment for the whole Oaklands College organisation, to make its first senior final is really special. There's lots of work to be done between now and January 26th, but we will be ready to fight for the trophy! Hopefully the entire Hertfordshire community can get behind its team and be there with us to make more history."

Fotu came off the bench to add four rebounds and three assists as she led Wolves for the first time this season while Terri Battle also made an impact despite not starting, finishing with a ten points, 14 rebound double-double in just under 20 minutes. Abigail Rafferty had seven boards to go with her 18 points while Sam Ashby finished with 15 points, four steals and as many rebounds.

Shanice Beckford-Norton opened the scoring for the hosts in what proved to be a tight first period, and Fotu's lay-up gave Wolves a 10-9 lead at the midway stage of the quarter. Dani Macray's triple put the hosts up by nine and although Rebels finished the period strongly, Oaklands took a 23-20 lead into the first break.

Ashby sunk a trey to open the second period and back-to-back three-point plays from Fortu put Wolves into control as they opened a 32-20 lead inside two minutes. The three point barrage continued as Rafferty and Beth Sarson got in on the act, before Ashby sunk another from downtown and Rafferty's lay-up sent Ryan's team into the locker room with a 55-36 lead.

Fotu completed her third and-one of the game before hitting a trey to open the third period and Rebels never got any closer than 19 points despite only being outscored 22-21, and a pair of Lavinia Da Silva free-throws sent Wolves into the final break with a 77-57 lead.

Any thoughts of an Essex comeback were ended within three fourth period minutes as three Ashby free-throws helped extend the hosts' lead to 88-62 and it was St Albans-based Sarson who completed the scoring before Wolves' young fans stormed the court to celebrate their team's place in the final.

It was a different story for Wolves' men as they came up just short at Cambridge Cats, going to down 84-82 Liam Jefferson's team trailed 66-56 at the final break but eight straight points from La'Quarne Sayles saw them slash the deficit, only to run out of time.

In a game of multiple runs Wolves had trailed 21-12 at the first break only to cut that deficit to 40-37 at halftime. Cats pulled away to lead 66-56 at the final break before Wolves charge proved to be too little, too late

Sayles led the visitors with 20 points, with Gavin Mitchell hitting 16, Dan Kostadinov getting 15 and Amaukwuim finishing with 13.

The U-18 women - the academy second team - continued their excellent season with a sixth straight league victory as Woking Blackhawks were beaten 100-33 on Sunday evening.

Da Silva's side rushed out of the blocks, scoring the first 19 points on the way to a 33-5 first period lead. The scoring slowed after that but Wolves were 57-13 up at half-time and 83-27 ahead at the final break before wrapping things up with an 18-6 fourth frame. Katie Nicholson led the Wolves' scoring with 22 while Merlene Ribeio and Imogen Baker scored 17 apiece.

Ryan wants big crowd for Trophy semi

Oaklands Wolves coach Lee Ryan is looking for a big crowd to help his side reach their first major final as they host Essex Rebels in the Super League Women's Trophy semi-final on Saturday.

"The semi final game is massive" he said. "It’s a huge moment for us as an organisation and gives us a great opportunity to make a final for the first time in our history. 

"Essex showed us in last weekends championship game that they have the players to hurt us and it will be a tough battle between the teams, our home crowd could be the difference so hoping to see everyone there to cheers us all the way to Birmingham!"

Wolves were members of the Super League's predecessor the WBBL for eight years, but Saturday will be their first semi-final game, and they will be looking for a repeat of their win in last week's league game against Rebels.

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In Saturday's 85-73 victory at Essex Arena, the home side had no answer to Dani McCray as she poured in 25 points, adding nine rebounds, five steals and two assists. Shanice Beckford-Norton finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Abigail Rafferty added seven boards and two assists to her 12 points. 

Wolves found it tough going in the first half, and McCray's three-point only cut the deficit to 26-22 at the first break before Rebels outscored them 24-16 in the second quarter to lead 50-38 going into the locker room.

Whatever Ryan said at the half-time interval clearly worked and five McCray points plus four form Beckford-Norton in a 9-0 run saw the gap closed to 53-47 with four minutes gone. 

A Beckford-Norton and-one kept Wolves in touch before a Raffety lay-up and a Sam Ashby triple saw Wolves take a 61-60 lead with 71 third period seconds on the clock, and McCray's basket sent the visitors into the final break 63-62 ahead.

The opening six minutes of the fourth period proved key as Terri Battle hit five points and three straight Beckford-Norton free-throws capped a 16-3 run which effectively sealed the victory for the visitors.

There was also success for both of Wolves' men's sides as the Division Three team won 70-62 at Warwickshire Hawks and the Conference team defeated hosts Northamptonshire Titans II 69-56.

In a tight game throughout, Liam Jefferson's team led 14-12 at the first break but went into the locker room trailing 29-28. A 16-12 third quarter saw Wolves take a three point lead into the final break before wrapping up their third win of the campaign with a 26-21 final frame. 

Lore Adekeye led Wolves with 22 points, while three-point assassin Dan Kostadinov added 16 and recent signing Deji Adekunle 14 

A strong second half in Northampton saw a young Wolves side move up to sixth place in Pool 3. Having trailed 29-27 at half-time, Wolves tid the score at 45 going into the final period where they outscored the hosts 24-11 to wrap up the win. 

Wolves were led by 21 Kajus Gasperas points, with Stanley Mills adding 21 and Tristan McIntosh 11

It was a disappointing weekend for Wolves Division Two women's side as a pair of narrow defeats dented their play-off hopes.

They came up just short despite a late comeback at Solent Kestrels, going down 62-60 on Saturday, before finding an experienced Thames Valley Cavaliers side too tough as they lost 54-44 at home.

Wolves were 14-9 down after five minutes but added only two points in the rest of the first period to trail 22-11 at the first break. They narrowed the gap to 36 -29 at half-time and were within a point midway through the third quarter. But Kestrels took the lead back out to 53-44 at the final break and were 58-51 ahead with five minutes left before Wolves came up just short with their comeback.

Amye Swinney led Wolves with a season-high 22 points, while Caitlin Ryan had a 17 point, 15 rebound double, adding four steals, three assists and as many blocks before fouling out with 2.1 seconds on the clock. Darcey Woodman just missed out on a double-double with ten points and nine rebounds.

Woodman's 15 points the following weren't enough as Cavs led throughout the game to inflict Wolves' second loss of the weekend. 

A slow start saw Wolves trail 8-2 after five minutes, and they were playing catch-up all game before going into the final break 39-29 down. They managed to get within four points with three minutes on the clock before Cavaliers finished strongly.

Rhiana Redondo had 11 points and eight rebounds while Ryan had 11 boards, five assists and two steals.

It was a busy weekend for the Wolves academy as the U-18 women won their top of the table clash against Brixton Topcats 59-46.

Both teams went into the game with perfect 4-0 records, and Wolves shaded the first period 14-12 before blowing the game open with a 20-7 second quarter to take a 17 point lead into the locker room. Wolves' lead peaked at 22 points midway through the third period but Topcats fought back and got within five points down the stretch before three Imogen Baker baskets saw Wolves seal the win a move clear at the top of the table.

Baker led Wolves with 14 points, with Katie Nicholson adding 12. .